BERLIN (AP) -
Germany’s foreign minister says the European Union should consider filing a
trade case against the United States over Washington’s decision to impose
anti-dumping duties on steel imported from Europe.

Among the companies
that would be affected by the tariffs are two German steelmakers, Salzgitter
AG and Dillinger Huette.

Sigmar Gabriel said
in a statement Friday that the U.S. calculations contradicted World Trade
Organization rules and were intended to protect U.S. steelmakers “by putting
the better German steel industry at a disadvantage.”

Gabriel noted that
it was the first anti-dumping procedure launched by the new U.S.
administration.

He called the U.S.
move unacceptable, and urged the EU to examine whether to file a WTO case.